Nixons Favorite?

“Frost/Nixon” 2008 film

There is a great scene in the 2008 film “Frost/Nixon” directed by Ron Howard where Frost gifts Nixon a pair of the iconic Gucci Horsebit loafers. A humorous gesture because after Frost’s initial meeting with Nixon at his California retreat, Nixon turns to his chief of staff Jack Brennan (played by Kevin Bacon) and comments on Frost’s choice of footwear:

Nixon: Say, did you notice his shoes?

Brennan: No, sir.

Nixon: Italian. No laces. What do you think? My people tried to get me to wear a pair like that.

Brennan: I think a man’s shoes should have laces, sir.

Nixon: You do?

Brennan: Yeah. Personally, I find those Italian shoes very…effeminate.

Nixon: That’s quite right.

Although there is no proof that this conversation or Frost gifting Nixon the shoes ever took place, it is likely that Nixon would not have been keen to wear this style of shoe. Laced shoes were seen as more formal and aligned with the structured, professional aesthetic of the time.

The Gucci Horsebit were introduced to the world in 1953. Their enduring popularity with businessmen stems from a combination of historical prestige, versatile style, cultural associations, and practical functionality. They have an iconic timeless design and an elegant aesthetic that doesn’t feel overly trendy. To learn more about how they are made and what makes them special, Gucci released a short film on their production.